Jeffrey Immelt, General Electric Co. chairman and CEO, on Wednesday promised to create 1,000 jobs in France as part of a $17 billion deal in which GE would acquire the energy operations of French multinational company Alstom. A GE spokesman reiterated Wednesday afternoon that the deal would have no impact on GE's local operations.

Immelt's pledge came during a meeting with French President Francois Hollande, according to The Associated Press. GE makes generators and steam turbines in Schenectady, and its renewable energy headquarters also is there.

Meanwhile, German engineering and electronics conglomerate Siemens AG said it was preparing its own bid for Alstom, the Financial Times newspaper reported Wednesday, with a plan to turn over its rail manufacturing and an undisclosed amount of cash to the French company in return for Alstom's energy assets.

The plan, one Siemens official told the newspaper, would create two "European champions of worldwide reach."

Alstom's board plans to make a decision by June 23.

GE is no stranger to doing business in France.

Immelt has talked about another successful venture the company has there, its partnership with French aerospace group Safran in CFM International, which is developing the Leap engine that will power the next generation of single-aisle Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

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The New York Times reported Wednesday that CFM has a backlog of 5,700 orders for the Leap, which is expected to enter service in 2016.

France's economy minister, Arnaud Montebourg, has opposed GE's takeover of Alstom, but has suggested that a partnership such as that with CFM might be viewed more favorably by officials in Paris, the Times said.

"It's extraordinary, a joint venture that has lasted 40 years," Montebourg said earlier this month.